Top 10 Causes of Contact Dermatitis

Wednesday, June 21, 2006

ROCHESTER, Minn. — Have a red, sore itchy rash after wearing that new bracelet? It could result from allergic contact dermatitis, a skin reaction to something — jewelry, fragrance or other substances — with which you've had contact.

The July issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter lists the top 10 causes of contact dermatitis that were recently identified by Mayo Clinic researchers:

• Nickel, commonly found on jewelry clasps or buttons


• Gold, usually worn as jewelry


• Balsam of Peru, a fragrance used in skin care products and perfume


• Thimerosal, a preservative used in vaccines

Neomycin sulfate, a topical antibiotic

• Fragrance mix, which is comprised of eight of the most common flavorings found in various products


• Formaldehyde, a preservative that can be found in paper products, paints, building materials, medications, household cleaners and fabric finishes


• Cobalt chloride, a metal found in medical products, hair dye, antiperspirants, and in snaps, buttons and tools


• Bacitracin, a topical antibiotic


• Quaternium-15, a preservative found in skin care products and in industrial products such as paints, polishes and waxes

Skin allergy patch testing can confirm allergies to these substances.

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Mayo Clinic is the first and largest integrated, not-for-profit group practice in the world. Doctors from every medical specialty work together to care for patients, joined by common systems and a philosophy of "the needs of the patient come first." More than 3,700 physicians, scientists and researchers and 50,100 allied health staff work at Mayo Clinic, which has sites in Rochester, Minn; Jacksonville, Fla; and Scottsdale/Phoenix, Ariz. and community based providers in more than 70 locations in Southern Minn., Western Wis. and Northeast Iowa. These locations treat more than half a million people each year. To obtain the latest news releases from Mayo Clinic, go to www.mayoclinic.org/news. For information about research and education, visit www.mayo.edu. MayoClinic.com is available as a resource for your health stories.